Undoubtedly, security is one of the main concerns of all travellers who travel individually or in groups. This issue is more important for solo female traveller, and I understand this very well because I also travel alone and always research the safety of a place before travelling. However, travelling for women is more difficult than travelling for men.
Over the past few weeks, I’ve received numerous emails from women asking questions about Turkey’s security. In general, the security of Türkiye is high for tourists. I will share my experiences from interviews with women to provide a comprehensive understanding of Turkey’s security situation.
Is Turkey Safe for Solo Female Travellers?
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During my trip to Turkey, I did not witness any threats, group fights, weapons carrying, or violence against women and tourists. Still, some small crimes, such as pickpocketing and fraud, occur in this country under various pretexts.
With a little vigilance, you can stay away from these dangers. The same crimes may vary from place to place. Therefore, travelling to Turkey is safe if you consider the points below.
Cultural risks that may threaten female tourists
The central and eastern cities of Turkey, in stark contrast to the coastal and western cities, are less developed, and their inhabitants are more religious. So, it impacts the local dress code for women, making it a crucial aspect for female tourists to consider.
When I travelled to the eastern cities of Turkey, such as Batman and Kars, I noticed that most women wear scarves and hijab. For this reason, the people of this city are not used to revealing clothes, and if they see a beautiful woman wearing revealing clothes, they will stare at her.
Generally, I advise women to dress like the people of the destination city and avoid showing off too much to avoid cultural dangers and not get hurt.
Which cities in Turkey are safer?
Since there are many tourists in some cities, the government pays more attention to their security, and the local people treat tourists better.
Izmir, Bursa, Eskişehir, Antalya, Istanbul, Ankara, and Cappadocia are among Turkey’s most touristic and safest cities, and women can easily travel to them.
Since many tourists travel to the cities mentioned, the native people of these cities are familiar with different types of clothing and will not stare at you like people who live in Western cities.
Due to Istanbul’s high importance, I wrote a separate article about its safety. For a better understanding, you should refer to the article “Is it safe to walk at night in Istanbul?”
The most important safety tips for women travelling to Turkey
Choosing the right hotel: Prestigious and luxury hotels are expensive, but your safety is more important than your money. Therefore, stay in reputable hotels, put your belongings in a safe place in the hotel, and do not carry them with you while walking around the city.
Act like Turkish people: One reason men and scammers may approach women is the way they behave and dress. So, try to dress like Turkish people and refer to the article “What Do People Wear In Turkey” to understand Turkish clothing better.
Respect the culture of Turkish people: According to what I have seen, Turkish people have no problem with tourists, but if you insult their culture and customs, you will get into trouble. For example, to visit mosques, you must wear less-revealing clothes and not make fun of Islam or mosques. Do not enter public places in beach clothes, and respect the country’s laws.
Health care in Turkey: I suggest dear ladies carry toilet paper to protect their health because some public toilets in this country may not have it. Some even joke that toilet paper in Turkey is as valuable as gold! In the past few years, the sanitary facilities in different cities of Turkey have improved greatly. However, women still need to carry toilet paper because they may get seriously ill if the virus is transmitted.
Reviews of other female tourists
According to my conversations with other female tourists, it’s clear that they have had overwhelmingly positive experiences in Turkey. They have explored all the tourist destinations without encountering any issues.
However, some had experienced several examples of fraud, which they had prevented with vigilance. They said people would approach them in tourist cities and crowded places and intend to take them to secluded places with excuses such as a cheaper hotel or exchanging dollars to liras with a low fee and stealing their jewels, money, and mobile phones.
Safety of women in public transport in Turkey
In Turkey, women sit on the front seats of the bus and choose the front seats in taxis. This issue is for women’s safety so the driver can protect them from any problem.
You should know that sometimes some men occupy the front seats of the bus at night. If this happens to you and a man sits next to you, and you are upset about it, voice your objection so that other passengers can hear it. This will prevent passengers from bothering you, and you can continue your journey with peace of mind.
Emergency contact information in Turkey
- Police: 115
- Emergency services: 112, all emergency services, including ambulance, fire station, police, and…
- Fire department: 110
- Number for foreign nationals: 903122929292
Considering all this
During your trip to Turkey, men may approach you with the intention of friendship, and I suggest you stay away from them.
There are many tourist tours in different cities of Turkey. If you do not like travelling alone, you can join them and visit this country.
What is your opinion? Are you ready to travel to Turkey under these conditions? If you have travelled to Turkey, please share your views with other tourists in the comments section for further guidance.
